Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/53

 Had Buonaparte carefully searched his army list, he could not have found two men less calculated to preside over a body of gentlemen, than the General Wirion and the Commandant Courçelles, the only distinction between them being, that to the depravity of an unprincipled rapacious tyrant, the latter added the vindictive malice and manners of a ruffian. The prolific genius of the former was continually on the rack to invent new means of accumulating wealth, alike indifferent to justice or honour; hence, as long as the prisoners could afford to gratify his avarice, he was always ready to grant any indulgence in his power. As erroneous notions have been entertained respecting the nature of parole in Verdun, it may not be amiss to state, that every officer, before he was released from the citadel, was obliged to sign a paper, promising, upon his honour, to conform to the regulations of the depôt, and not to escape, if permitted to reside in the town; as this promise was considered binding, all honourable young men who were determined to